Ward 4 residents who’d like to be considered for a seat on the Billings City Council have until Jan. 24 to let Mayor Bill Cole know of their interest.

Councilmember Ryan Sullivan announced Jan. 2 that a new job in Houston means that Jan. 16 will be his last day on the council.

Cole will consider applicants’ qualifications before putting a name forward for the nine remaining council members to approve during their Feb. 5 meeting.

That date is important, said Bruce McCandless, the acting city administrator. If the council can’t decide on Sullivan’s successor by Feb. 12, the city’s charter requires a special election at the city's expense.

McCandless said Tuesday that a half-dozen or so Ward 4 residents have expressed interest in holding office. Sullivan’s council term expires Dec. 31, 2019.

Applicants must live within Ward 4 boundaries — the north and northwest portions of Billings — and must, according to the city charter, be “a qualified voter” in the city of Billings.

Cole said people interested in the council seat should send a resume, cover letter “and any other documents describing their qualifications and interest” before Jan. 24 to Wynette Maddox, Billings City Hall, 210 N. 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101.

“I expect a lot of interest,” Cole said. “I hope we can attract a large crop of qualified applicants.”

Cole said Sullivan brought “hard work and intellectual rigor” to the council, “and it’s going to be hard to fill his shoes.”